This year on September 23, we celebrate the 106th anniversary of the placement of the National Shrine’s foundation stone in 1920. After years of planning, Catholics across the United States rejoiced as Cardinal Gibbons dedicated the stone and the vision for a national Catholic shrine began to be realized.
As we remember this historic moment, we invite you to discover five fun facts about this significant piece in the history of America’s Catholic Church.
1. The foundation stone was transported 1,540 miles to Washington, D.C. by truck.
According to granite supplier James Sexton, the trip proved to be very eventful. Not only did they stop along the way at over 40 churches and schools, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Fordham College in New York, but at one point during the trip, the brakes on the truck carrying the stone went out! He wrote in a letter to the bishop:
“I think how lucky we were to travel so far, in all 1540 miles, without any accident and I shall always reverence the Blessed Virgin Mary as I have told many…how she protected us at Perryville Road [near the Susquehanna River] when [the brakes on] our Auto Truck [proved unmanageable and we] dashed down the hill at fully 40 miles an hour.”
2. The foundation stone weighs four tons!
Sandblasted out of New Hampshire granite, the foundation stone weighs four tons – that’s more than a standard car!
3. It contains membership scrolls from Salve Regina.
The official agency of the National Shrine prior to its construction, Salve Regina led the fundraising efforts to build “America’s Catholic Church.” From its founding in 1910 to the completion of the superstructure in 1959, Salve Regina led financial development through distributing its flagship publication, selling booklets with stamps featuring the planned art for the Shrine, and selling memberships to The National Salve Regina League.
When the foundation stone was placed, a copper container holding the membership rolls of the Salve Regina League was sealed into the stone. And for those not in the D.C. area, Father McKenna printed extra copies of the foundation ceremony program to be sold for $1 apiece, with seven-color illustrations.
4. The foundation stone is located in the Our Lady of Antipolo Oratory.
Recognizing the Filipino people’s special devotion to Mary, the Our Lady of Antipolo Oratory honors her under her title of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. If you visit the National Shrine, you can go to the Crypt level and see the foundation stone in this oratory yourself!
5. When the foundation stone was placed at the building site, over 1,000 people gathered to watch.
This historic event would mark the beginning of the construction of America’s Catholic Church as we know it today. Cardinal Gibbons placed his right hand on the stone and prayed, “In the faith of Jesus Christ, we place this first stone in the foundation,” and blessed the stone three times as it was lowered onto its cement base. He then faced the direction of what would become the entrance to the National Shrine, invoking the divine blessing on the structure and reciting the Veni Creator Spiritus. The dedication service concluded with the singing of the Te Deum.
Sources:
Rohling, Geraldine M., PhD, MAEd. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Guide and Tour Book. Washington, D.C.: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2018.
Rohling. Jubilee 2009: A Photographic History of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Historic images accessed at the Basilica Archives.